Background
The Utkala Kingdom was located in the eastern portion of the modern-day Indian state of Orissa. This kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, with the names Utkala, Utpala, Odra Desha, Oddyana and Okkali. The name of Utkal is mentioned in the Puranas, Epics and different religious text book. According to Skanda Purana, the land of Utkala is the holy land in Bharata Varsha where Purusottama Kshetra is situated. It is mentioned in India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The Utkala Kingdom was also known as Kalinga, Kangoda, Odra Desha, Odra Vishaya, Oddiyana, Mahakantara, Attabhika, Matsa Desa, Dakhina Koshala, Dandabhukti, Odabadi, Yajanagar, Uddisa Subah etc. in different time period of. The boundary of Utkala region was from mouth of river Ganges in the north to river Godavari in the south and Amarkantak hills in the west to Bay of Bengal in the east. Suryavanshi emperor of Orissa Gajapti Kapilendra Dev renamed his kingdom from Utkala to Orissa Rastra.
Utkala Brahmins, branch of Pancha-Gauda Brahmins are the farthest branch of the Panch-Gauda in the east, south of Maithils. Panch-Gauda and Panch-Dravida are two chief divisions of Brahmins, as per the śloka from Rājatarangini of Kalhaṇa / Kalhana:
- कर्णाटकाश्च तैलङ्गा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः ।
- गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ॥
- सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः ।
- पञ्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः ॥
Translation: The Karnātakas, Tailangas, Dravidas, Mahārāshtrakās and Gurjaras; these five types who live south of Vindhya mountains are called "five Dravidas" Brahmins.
The Sarasvatas, Kanyakubjas, Gaudas, Utkalas, and Maithils, who live north of Vindhya mountains are known as "five Gaudas" Brahmins. And a medieval Upapurana named Kapila Purana says
- वर्षाणां भारत श्रेष्ठ देशानां उत्कल स्मृतः
- उत्कलस्य समदेशोः देशोः नास्ति महीतले ॥
- -कपिल पुराण
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